Along with win totals and division winner picks, MLB fans can also wager on whether each team will make or miss the playoffs.
There are some long-shot options in this market, whether it’s backing an unlikely run from the Nationals or fading the Dodgers in a highly improbable miss.
The focus here, though, is on betting value, so we’ve zeroed in on more realistic outcomes.
Pirates to Make Playoffs (+220)
Led by the clear NL Cy Young favorite in Paul Skenes, the Pirates could have one of the five best rotations in baseball. The lineup also got a needed boost with the additions of Ryan O’Hearn, Marcell Ozuna, and Brandon Lowe.
Konnor Griffin won’t start the year in the big leagues, but there’s a strong chance he’s an everyday player by mid-May. Bubba Chandler has the tools to develop into an All-Star.
The NL Central is wide open behind the Cubs, and Pittsburgh has a legitimate path to 85-plus wins and a spot in the wild-card race.
Houston Astros to Miss Playoffs (-113)
The Astros might be the fourth-best team in the AL West. That depends on the Rangers staying healthy and the Athletics finding enough pitching to support their offense, but it’s not a stretch.
Houston projects closer to a .500 team, even in a best-case scenario where Yordan Alvarez plays 155 games. The rotation behind Hunter Brown carries significant downside, and the lineup no longer resembles the group from its dynastic run.
These odds imply a 53.1% probability. That would suggest just a 46.9% chance of missing the playoffs, but Houston’s true outlook feels closer to 30% to make it, given the strength at the top of the American League.
San Francisco Giants to Make Playoffs (+184)
It wasn’t the most inspiring offseason at Oracle Park, but the core of Willy Adames, Rafael Devers, and Matt Chapman gives this lineup a relatively high floor.
Logan Webb and Robbie Ray have a case as one of the better one-two combinations in the National League, and there are young arms ready to contribute behind them. Landen Roupp has also been quietly solid at the back end of the rotation.
San Francisco projects as the second-best team in the NL West. That doesn’t guarantee a wild-card spot, but it puts them in strong position to secure one.
Atlanta Braves to Miss Playoffs (+112)
Why are sportsbooks still expecting the Braves to make the playoffs?
Much of the rotation is on the injured list, leaving their outlook tied to a late-career Chris Sale logging 180-plus innings and both Ozzie Albies and Michael Harris II returning to above-average bat production.
Beyond some offensive star power and a reliable bullpen, there isn’t much to like about this roster. It projects closer to a .500 team, which likely won’t be enough to stay in the National League wild-card race.
Philadelphia Phillies to Miss Playoffs (+178)
The Phillies have made the playoffs in four straight years, so it’s understandable they are such a short price to make the postseason in 2026. Philadelphia enters the new season with relative uncertainty, though.
Zack Wheeler isn’t healthy to start the year, Ranger Suarez is in Boston, and the rotation suddenly looks a bit fragile at the back end. Offensively, this veteran group should have another good year in them, but there’s always the risk of decline.
The NL East isn’t as strong as it was a couple of years ago. With the Mets stacking their roster this winter, they look well-set to be the only East team in the postseason.
The Phillies have reached the postseason in four straight years, so it’s no surprise they’re priced as a contender again in 2026. Still, there’s more uncertainty than usual entering the season.
Zack Wheeler isn’t fully healthy to start the year, Ranger Suárez is now in Boston, and the rotation looks thinner at the back end. Offensively, this veteran group should remain productive, but the risk of decline is real.
While the NL East isn’t as deep as it has been in recent years, I still expect some regression from this Phillies group. With the Mets aggressively building their roster this winter, they appear best positioned to represent the division in the postseason, and it’s hard to see more than one team from this group getting in.
Toronto Blue Jays to Make Playoffs (-158)
It’s not the boldest call to back the reigning American League champions to make the playoffs. Toronto added Dylan Cease, Cody Ponce, Tyler Rogers, and Kazuma Okamoto to its core, with Bo Bichette and Chris Bassitt as the notable departures.
Even in the sport’s strongest division, the Blue Jays are a fair price at -158. The roster has improved from last year, and there’s a strong chance all three wild-card spots come out of the AL East, giving them an added cushion.
*All odds courtesy of FanDuel.
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